This a big problem?

[guitaristwhoplaysdrums]

So when it comes to BD technique im pretty fast and i stay on the pedal but whenever im not playing the BD i leave my beater touching the head...is this a huge problem? because alot of what ive seen/read discourages drummers from doing this..thanx

[guitaristwhoplaysdrums]

any one have anything at all to say about this?

[ermghoti]

Might be a problem, you'd usually be better off resting with your toe up, or maybe with your foot pulled back a bit.

It probably means you are "burying the beater," not releasing the beater from the head after a hit. Imagine playing with your hands, allowing the stick to rebound lets the head resonate unimpeded, the same happens with a bass drum. If the music calls for the bass to be choked and punchy, versus ringing and boomy, burying may actually be preferable, but if you don't nurture the skill, you won't be able to do both.

If you're not burying, you're lowering the beater into the head between strokes, which will almost certainly show up when miked, and is definitely wasted movement.

[razorx]

i dont think that its a problem.
i do it all of the time and my dad tells me thats its bad but whaterver.
check out this guy on youtube. i think hes one of the best cover drummers that i have ever seen. he has a whole profile dedicated to rush stuff and another for other covers.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=b6CMx2wLMcA

[GRUNTERSDAD]

I bury the beater. It makes a different sound than if you don't. I noticed Wednesday night when I went to see Steve Ferrone, drummer for Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, that he does it also. He does quite well so I see it as a style and not a problem.

[fourstringdrums]

It's not really a "problem", plenty of drummers do it. Some who use a more open bass drum tuning use it to raise the pitch of the drum to give a different feel in what they're playing, sort of like boom BAH boom boom BAH boom boom BAH boom boom BAH.

However in certain styles of music, like rock, and if you do play with a more open bass drum, this doesn't always sound that good and can lead to the bass beater "fluttering" on the head. It sounds best if you have more padding against the batter head. But, in comparison to "unburying" the beater, the drum sound will be a little more choked, and of course, by leaving the beater on the head between strokes you're storing more tension in your leg.

[frank0072]

When I started drumming I used to do this too, but then I read that you don't use the bassdrum to its full potential when you bury the beater, so I never did it again, I don't think I can even do it comfortably anymore. I don't think its 'wrong' to do it, but I find like it better when it bounces right back after a stroke :).

[That Guy]

I have always kept the beater resting on the bass head. Just a preference thing to me, its more comfortable.